So, you’ve finally finished that book you’ve been working on. You’re ready to go from aspiring author to successful, self-published author. Well, almost. Here are three self-publishing steps you don’t want to skip before turning your book dreams into book realities.
Hire an Editor or Proofreader!
You’ve been staring at this thing for months now. There are at least a few typos that you’ve glanced over a hundred times. That’s just the way our brains work. But that’s no excuse for leaving typos in the finished work. So find a good editor or proofreader!
And make sure you know exactly what you want from that person. Are you extremely happy with everything about the book and just looking to make sure there aren’t any misspelled words or missing punctuation marks? You want a proofreader. Looking to get a little help with wording and maybe some feedback on the way certain things are arranged? You want an editor.
What Are Your Distribution Channels?
Who’s going to sell your book? And what are their formatting requirements? Will you be selling a print version as well? When self publishing, these are all questions that you, the author, need to answer.
Different members of your audience will have their own preferred eBook platforms. And those platforms may have differing formatting requirements. When selecting an eBook publishing software solution, make sure that whatever you pick can create all of the outputs you’re looking for. Some distribution channels, like the Amazon Kindle Store, will offer their own conversion software. But these softwares only create eBooks that can be sold through their own channels. If you’re planning on releasing your eBook in multiple places, it is definitely worth finding a more flexible conversion software.
Accessibility!
You might not have given much thought as to how accessible your digital book is or is not. But ignoring this step is a serious error. People with disabilities represent a sizable buying power and failing to provide adequate accessibility features will exclude that entire market. On the other hand, following accessibility best practices will help provide a flexible reading experience that all of your readers can benefit from. If you’re unsure where to start with this step, consider reaching out to an accessibility consultant.